Support for lids, covers, and the like



0ct. 31, 1950 G. v. JAKEWAY 2,527,933

SUPPORT FOR LIDS, COVERS', AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1948 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY isatenteci ct. l

" lUNflMTvl-l) STATES SUPPORT` FOR uns, COvERa-A THIIkn 3 n 'M Gerald V..Iakeway, Grandfltvapds', lvllicli.,assigner'A tojKeeler BrassompanygfrandRapids, Mich.

6 Claims.

f "This invention relates' "to improvements Tin supports for lids,covers and 'the like.` The main objects of this invention are:

[Fil-st, toprovide a' support for the lids or covers of 'cabinets whichis adapted to support the lid in any adjusted open position Aand at thesame `time, one in which the supported lid is .easily manipulated.

' Second, to provide 'a structure having these advantages which is quitecompact and inconspicuous and at the same time is easily installed. f.Third, to'providea structure of this character 'irr'which the parts aresimple and economical toproduce and easily assembled.`

"Objects relating to detailsv and economiesl of i the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention-isV dened in theclaims.`

A preferred embodiment of the invention is lillustrated in theVaccompanying drawings, in iwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section of a cabinetsuch as a radio or 'phonograph cabinet having my lid supportinstalledtherein.l

Fig.2 is a' fragmentary view partiallyin vertical section onaline-corresponding to line 2--2 billig.' 1. jfEfig. 3 is a'fragmentary' view partially inverp'osition. p v v j In the embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawing, I represents a cabinetcomprising a rear wall 2, anfendwall v3 and'a shelf 4); The lid or cover5 is hinged to the rear wall at its rear edge, the hinge B -illustratedbeing o f the leaf type.

The support of mivinvention in the embodiy ment illustrated comprises "abase plate 1 formed as *a sheetmetal Vstamping and having downturnedears 8 disposed in spaced relation to receive the annular support member9 Ibetween them. This support member 9 is provided with journals orpivots I pivotally engaging these ears.

The support member is also desirably formed as a sheet metal stampingandris provided with an ticalv'section showing thevlid` in partially.`open;v

i AppliatidnMch s, 194,8,srialf,No.r13,655-

jmembenQThisflange VI8 of the housing member serves fas a ballVracefin'opposed relation to the ball race of the torsion member, thebearingfballs I9 being arranged ,between theball f races in coactingrelation thereto as is clearly jshownin thedr'a'wings. The tubularhousing I'I 'hash -bttorn portion 20 having aY central kvilanged opening2l therein gilidably receiving tl'ie supporting'- barl5..v The coillspring`22`has 10aa terminal`portion`23at its lower endengaging thebottom ,ofQthe'housig and a terminal por- "tion"'24"at""its`'llDper"endflaging, the torsin member. f 's'pring applies"torsion stress/toth''torsioninember as Vitv is rotated.V

The v'supporting bar I5 has a spirally'twi's'ted portion to substantiallength which coacts jwithf'the torsion member' to rotate'the'torsionmember' under the tension of the spring as the supporting bar isreciprocated through the t'orsion member. The supporting bar is providedwith an attaching bracket 26 at its upper end to which it is ypivotallyconnected by' thepivot 21,'the bracket being adapted for attachment tothe cover or lid as'by means of screws' 28. The vsupporting'rodpreferably has a straightor untvvisted portion 29 above its spirallytwisted 'portionwhichis adapted to engage the torsion mein- `,ber 'asYthe cover approaches its closed position thusallowing theeoverfto dropduring the last uportion of its closing movement.

' The baseplate is covered by means ofthe cover plate 39 which has acentral opening provided with a spherically rcurved ange 3| engaging thespherically curvedtop 32`v of the torsion member. AThisbasevcover platehas an inturned fiangjef33 Y lat Yone edge Engaging 'the' upwardly olsetedge 34 at. thereared'ge' of the basevplate and a downturned flange35"'at' its front edge engaging the upturned edgenSIv of 'the base platethus providr in?,r a snap-onfengagement with the base Plate. Thisvprovides-a'nish for the' base plate and fc rf- Aceals `its 'attachingscrews 31. Y With the' parts. thus arranged the torsion member. issubjected to. torsionall stress Whicliis fslightlydecreased as thejcoveris moved'toward ,fully'open'position but there lis at all'times frict algripping orjclutching rengagement of the torsionmember'with'.,thefsupporting bar holding thecover in its adjustedpositions except, as stated, when the cover is nearljT closed it isallowed to drop thus insuring a complete closing Without the operatorforcing it all the way to closed position. The pin or stop 38 at thelower end of the supporting bar limits the withdrawal movement thereof.

I have illustrated and described my support in a very practicalcommercial embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate anddescribe other modifications or adaptations as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myinvention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to`secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a support for lids and the like the combination of a base plateprovided with spaced depending ears, an annular support member pivotallymounted on said ears, a'tubular housing member having an outturnedilange at its a housing member having an out-turned flange at its upperend retainingly engaged with said support member, said ilangeconstituting a bearing race way, a torsion member rotatably supportedwithin said support member and having upper end retainingly engaged withsaid support member, said ange constituting a bearing race way, atorsion member rotatably supported within said support member and havinga bearing race way on its underside opposed to said race way of saidhousing member, said torsion member having an axial slot therein,bearing balls co'acting with said race ways, a coil spring arrangedwithin said 'housing member with its i lower end connected to saidhousing member and its upper end to said torsion member to apply stressthereto, 'a supDCrting bar adapted for attachment to the part supportedand reciprocable through said slot in said torsion member and having aspirally twisted portion coacting with the torsion member when the baris reciprocated therein, the bottomfof vthe housing having an openingtherein receiving said bar.

2. In a support for lids and the like the combination of a base plateprovided with spaced depending ears, an annular support member pivotallymounted on said ears, a tubular housing member 'mounted on said supportmember and having a raceway, a torsion member rotatably supported-withinsaid support member and hav-l ing a bearing race Way on its undersideopposed to said race way of said housing, member, said torsion memberhaving an axial slot therein, a coil spring arranged within said housingmember with its llower end connected to said housing member and itsupper. end to said torsion member Y,to apply stress thereto, asupporting bar adapted vfor attachment to the part Supported andreciprocable through said. slot in said torsion member and having aspirallytwisted portion co- ;acting with the torsion member when the baris reciprocated therein.

3. In a. support forlids and the like the combination of a base plateprovided with spaced depending ears, anannular support member vpivotallymounted on said ears, a tubular housing` member mounted onsaid SuppOrtmember, a torsion member rotatablysupported within said support member,said torsion member having an axial slot therein and a sphericallycurved top portion projecting through the base plate, acoil springarranged Within said housing member with itslower end connected to saidhousing member and itsupper end to said torsion member to apply lstressthereto, a supportingbar. adapted for at- "tachment to the partsupported and reciprocable through said slot in said torsion member andhaving a spirally twistedportion coacting with the ltorsion member whenthe bar` is reciprocated a bearing race way on its underside opposed tosaid race way of said housing member, said torsion member having anaxial slot therein, bearing -balls coacting with said race Ways, aspring arranged within said housing with one end connected to saidhousing member and its other end I to said torsion member,asupportinghar adapted for attachment to the part supported 'andreciprocable through said slot in said torsion member and having aspirally twisted portion 'coacting Ywith the torsion member when the baris reciprocated therein.

5. In a support for lids and the like the combination of a base plate,an annular support member swingably mounted on said base plate, ahousing member carried by said support member, a torsion memberrotatably supported within said support member, said torsionmember'having an axial opening therein,4 afspring arranged within saidhousing withjorie end connected to said housing member and its other endto said torsion member, a supporting bar adapted for attachmentV to thepart supported and reciprocable through saidopeninginfsaidtorsionmember, said bar and torsion member including `meanstherebetween for converting the reciprocating motion of the bar intorotary motion of the torsion membel- Y 6; In asupport for lids andthelike the com,- bination of a base plate, an annular supportmembenswingably mounted on said base plate,

.a housingV member Acarried by said support member, a torsion memberrotatably supported with;- in.said Asupport member, said torsionv memberhavinganl' axial slot therein, a spring arranged within said housingwith one end conneetedto said housing member and its other end to saidtorsion member,a supporting. bar adapted for attachment tothe partsupported and reciprocaf ble through said. slot. in said torsion 4memberand 4having aspirally;twistedportion coacting. with the torsion memberwhen the bar is reciproeated therein, and a eener, for,- said baseplatehaving retainingengagement'.withsaid ltorsion member.

GEBALDV. .iAKEWAY- l Numberv (freat,I Britain June 17, 1,920

